Form clamp for square columns



Oct. 28, 1969 3. 5. KNORR 7 FORM CLAMP FOR SQUARE COLUMNS 7 Filed Nov. 30, 1966 .2 Sheets-Shef 1 INVINTOR REX B. KNORR M9 ATIQRNEY Oct. 28, 1969 R. B. KNORR FORM CLAMP FOR SQUARE COLUMNS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed Nov. 30, 1966 mysm'oR REX B. KNORR fil wu\ngl- ATTORNEY,

United States Patent 3,475,017 FORM CLAMP FOR SQUARE COLUMNS Rex B. Knorr, Miami, Fla., assignor to Steelco Engineering Co., Miami, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Nov. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 597,938 Int. Cl. B25b 5/14 US. Cl. 269124 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A form clamp for concrete column molds comprising a pair of like right-angle frames, each of which consists of a pair of metal angle bars connected together at abutted ends to form a corner, and a pair of metal angle sections inverted relative to the angle bars and respectively welded thereto at the abutted ends so that the corner has a tubular configuration and is reinforced by the angle sections. One flange of each bar has a series of equally spaced notches extending inwardly from an edge thereof to form fingers, so that the two right angle frames can be arranged in inverted relation relative to each other on opposite sides of a mold to surround the mold with notches of one frame interfitting with notches of the other frame and unnotched material adjacent thereto to lock the frames together and thereby clamp the mold. A third right angle frame of similar construction is interfitted with the pair of frames to clamp a column mould of L shape.

This invention relates to improvements in clamping means for squaring the forms of a concrete material column form or mold and for tightly securing said walls or mold formed in the required position against spreading during the pouring and setting of the concrete.

Heretofore, clamping devices of this general character, were comprised of pairs of bars or straps pivotally joined to form component halves which were secured together and about a column form by means of clamps, wedges, pins, bolts and the like. However, such devices fail to alford positive means for squaring the form and they are also objectionable because of the multiplicity of separate locking devices required for securing them in place.

It is an object of the present invention to provide com plemental pairs of permanently squared clamp frames of a character adapted for use as a template during the initial setting up of a form for concrete columns.

Another object is to provide novel clamp frames of the character described which are easy to assemble around set up column forms or panels and which interlock quickly and easily without the use of accessory locking elements to insure squaring of the forms and to provide a rigid clamp for retaining said panels assembled and in position.

Still another object of the invention resides in mating pairs of form clamps that embody few parts, are inexpensive to manufacture, are easy to assemble and quickly disassemble, are light in weight, may be nested, stacked or packed compactly thus requiring little storage space and which, because of their simple construction have firm flat surface contact with the column form walls to prevent wall distortion A further object of the invention resides in mating pairs of angle irons and with the flange of one angle iron of each clamp being notched for receiving the notched angle iron of a companion clamp whereby the several components are quickly and easily fitted around the column form, with the notches of one form having fitment into the notches of its companion form and with each clamp being connected together at their meeting ends to prevent spreading of the clamp to prevent distortion of the forms.

3,475,017 Patented Oct. 28, 1969 Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following descripton, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIGURES 1 is a perspective view of a column form having the invention applied thereto,

FIGURE 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of several form clamps disposed about the corner form and with the corner form being of substantially L-shape,

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 but not showing the form and cement included in FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the connecting means between a pair of form clamps,

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of FIGURE 5, and

FIGURE 7 is a section showing the clamp forms disposed about the lower end of the corner forms, and secured to a floor area.

Referring specifically to the drawings, each form embodies a pair of right angularly disposed angle irons having a base flange 5 and a right angle flange 6. The flanges of each mating pair of clamps are welded together, along the line 7 and welded to an angle iron 8. A relatively short angle iron 9 is welded to the base angle 5 as at 10 and the angle iron 9 is welded to a flange 6 so that the angle irons constituting the corner brace are securely held against twisting or spreading under the pressure exerted within the form.

Each vertical flange of the clamp members are provided with slots 11, adapted to have fitment into corresponding slots formed in a companion clamp, such preventing the spreading of the forms. Each of the slots form equidistantly spaced fingers 12 and certain of the fingers are provided with cylindrical apertures 13 adapted to receive a conventional carpenters nail to secure the clamps to the form boards. At opposite or horizontal flange of each clamp member 6 is provided with spaced apart square apertures 14 whereby, when the clamps are fitted around the forms, as shown in FIGURE 7, the clamps will hold the form boards from spreading with respect to the concrete floor by driving conventional concrete nails through the square openings 14. The several slots and fingers 11 and 12 create an interlocking joint between the forms 5 when they are engaged with each other, around the form boards of the column, such as illustrated in FIGURE 1 and to prevent the forms from sliding downwardly upon the form boards, the nails are driven into the form boards through the apertures 14.

In the use of the device, the clamps are engaged about the form boards and to interlock with each other by the several fingers and the slots 11. The clamps are then nailed to the form board through the apertures 14, preventing the forms from sliding downwardly. The lowermost form, shown particularly in FIGURE 7 is engaged about the lower ends of the form boards and the concrete nails driven into the concrete flooring. The angle irons 8 and 9, being welded to the form members 5, rigidly hold the mating forms in a fixed angular position and with the several forms, shown in FIGURE 1, the form boards for the corner column are now ready to have the concrete poured therein and will be held against spreading for the interlocking of the fingers 12 and the slots 11. The welding of the angles 8 and 9 through the end portions of the mating clamp members insures utmost rigidity and permanent right angle relationship of said forms and further permits the frames to be nested compactly for storage. To form a clamp for a stepped column, as shown in FIGURE 3, one pair of clamps embrace the column and the second pair of clamp members, also shown in FIGURE 3 are united with each other and have fitment into the stepped column and interlock with the fingers of the first clamp thereby preventing spreading of the form boards for the stepped area.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a novel type of clamp 5 has interlocking engagement with respect to a companion clamp 5 and interlocked by the slots 11 and fingers 12 and engages the four sides of the form. The rigid connection of the angle irons at the corners of each clamp is believed to be novel and the welding of the corner members 8 and 9 securely hold the clamp members 5 against flexing when installed about a corner form. The clamps are simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and most effective for securely clamping about the form boards in a corner form.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A form clamp for concrete column molds comprising a pair of like right-angle frames, each consisting of a pair of metal angle bars having the same orientation and welded together at abutted ends to form a right-angle corner with the right angles between the flanges of said bars facing outwardly, and a pair of metal angle sections inverted relative to said angle bars and respectively welded thereto at said abutted ends so that said corner has a tubular configuration and is reinforced against bending or flexing by said angle sections, one flange of each of said bars having a series of equally spaced notches each extending inwardly from an edge thereof and terminating a substantial distance from the base thereof to form fingers, so that said right-angle frames can be arranged in inverted relation relative to each other on opposite sides of a mold to surround the mold with notches of one said frame interfitting with notches of the other said frame and unnotched material adjacent thereto to lock said frames together and thereby rigidly clamp said mold.

2. The form clamp as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said notched flanges has a plurality of apertures formed near certain fingers thereof for receiving nails so that said form clamps may be secured by such nails to the forms.

3. The form clamp as claimed in claim 2 in which each of the unnotched flanges of said frames also has a plurality of apertures formed through the same for receiving nails so that the frames may be secured by such nails to a base.

4. The form clamp as claimed in claim 1 and further including a third right-angle frame consisting of a pair of metal angle bars connected together at abutted ends thereof in an opposite sense relative to the bars of said first-named pair of frames so that the right angles between the flanges of said last-named bars face inwardly, and a pair of metal angle sections inverted relative to the angle bars of said third frame and respectively welded thereto at said abutted ends so that the corner formed at said butted ends has a tubular configuration and is reinforced against bending or flexing by said angle sections, one flange of each of the bars of said third frame having a series of equally spaced notches extending inwardly from an edge thereof and terminating substantially short of the base thereof to form fingers, so that said third frame can be arranged in inverted relation relative to one of said pair of frames with notches of said third frame interfitting with notches of the adjoining frame and unnotched material adjacent thereto to brace an offset corner of a column mold.

5. A form clamp for a generally rectangular column mold having an inwardly offset corner, said form clamp comprising first, second, and third right-angle frames, said first and second right-angle frames each consisting of a pair of metal right-angle bars having the same orientation and connected together at abutted ends with the right angles formed between the flanges of said bars facing outwardly, one flange of each of said bars having a series of equally spaced notches extending inwardly from an edge thereof and terminating short of a base thereof to form fingers, so that said first and second frames can be arranged in inverted relation relative to each other on opposite sides of said mold to surround the mold with notches of said first frame interfitting with notches of said second frame and unnotched material adjacent thereto to lock said first and second frames together and thereby clamp the mold, and said third frame comprising a third pair of metal right-angle bars connected together at abutted ends in an opposite sense relative to said firstnamed bars so that the right angles between the flanges of said third bars face inwardly, one flange of each of said third bars having a series of equally spaced notches extending inwardly from an edge thereof to form fingers, so that said third frame can be arranged in inverted relation relative to one of said first and second frames in said offset corner of said mold so that said one frame and said third frame form a rectangular configuration, and with notches of said third frame interfitting with notches of said one frame and unnotched material adjacent thereto to lock those frames together and thereby brace said offset corner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,749,437 3 1930 Meyer. 2,352,783 7/ 1944 Geer 249-194 X 2,891,590 6/ 1959 Olson. 3,371,904- 3/ 1968 Low 269-124 X FOREIGN PATENTS 933,273 12/ 1947 France.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner L. GILDEN, Assistant Examiner 

